Letters

Why is Martin Raffel, senior vice president of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, meeting with Palestinian Americans and mapping out strategies for Israel’s negotiations, which, after all, are the province of Israel’s democratically elected leaders (“For the Israeli-Palestinian Talks to be Successful,” Opinion, Aug. 9)?

I read with great interest the article, “Coexistence On The Prairie” (Aug. 16, In The Beginning).

The prayer space in Omaha was a beautiful example of “sharing” among the three faiths, Jews, Christians and Muslims. Readers of The Jewish Week need to be reminded that just such an example of cooperation and coexistence has existed in New York for more than 50 years at JFK Airport.

It was wonderful to see an essay concerning Jewish atheists (“Why Go to Synagogue If You Don’t Believe In God?” Aug. 30). This is a topic that should be discussed more often. However, as a Jewish atheist, I found Rabbi Levitt’s analysis missing the mark in several areas.

While I commend The Jewish Week and writer Ted Merwin for showing how the Broadway play “Soul Doctor” continues to popularize the spiritual and loving message of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach (“Carlebach’s Burning Desire To Heal, Aug. 9), the article also perpetuates some inaccuracies that must be clarified.

Francine Klagsbrun has demonstrated in her column, “You Better Start Swimmin’ Or You’ll Sink Like a Stone” (Opinion, Aug 9), that over the past several decades she has evolved from practicing liberal Judaism to promoting Jewish Liberalism. She glorifies the “marriage” of a non-Jewish male to a Jewish “convert” male.

I pity the poor women who end up married to those who submit themselves to the process of an unproven and subsequently harmful process of “conversion therapy” [on young gay men] (“Abuse Or Religious Freedom?” Aug. 23).
Equally appalling is the backing by Agudath Israel of a “therapy” program that includes the use of pornographic materials. I applaud Gov. Chris Christie even though he is a Republican, albeit a compassionate one.

If one takes Gary Rosenblatt’s view (Editor’s column, July 26) that the “Palestinian problem is not going away” and “if two-state solution fails, no good options remain”, then Israel should just capitulate now. There is no need for nine months or nine hours of negotiation. Israel should just agree to all the Palestinian demands now.